Principals Report

Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of St Brendan's,

Welcome to Week 4 of our final term. I cannot believe how quickly time is passing.

Children Take Their Energy From Their Parents

This time of year is a very busy one as we teach and assess our students.  In the background, we are of course, also making plans for 2025.  It is not unusual at this time of year for parents and students' thoughts to turn to the upcoming school year. I believe that it is important as parents to keep focused on the present as you help your child/children manage their expectations/possible anxiety around ‘what’s next’. It can be really helpful to maintain family routines, keep your home environments as calm and reassuring as you can and remind your children that all will be well. We have approximately six school weeks to go until the end of the year. Please encourage your child/children to focus on the present and please, do your best to do the same. Remember that children take their energy from those who care for them.

If you have a concern regarding your child, a conversation with their classroom teacher is always a great place to start. 

Foundation 2025 Information Night

Last Wednesday evening, we were delighted to welcome the families of our next cohort of Foundation students. Eager and interested parents were welcomed to St Brendan’s as they prepared to work in partnership with us. We look forward to their children commencing their learning journeys with at our school. We are delighted to welcome them all to St Brendan’s.

School Advisory Council

Last night, the S.A.C met and discussed school related topics and issues including:

• Enrolment numbers
• How students are placed in their classes for the upcoming year
• The Foundation 2025 Information Evening
• Drainage of the oval
• Stage 1 of our master plan
• Vacancies on the S.A.C for 2025

We will hold our A.G.M on November 26  and then share a meal together to celebrate and thank our members. We will also farewell Paul Bryant, our current S.A.C Chairperson  as the Bryant family’s (Paul, Cindy, Marcus and Catherine Year 6) time at St Brendan’s comes to close. I wish to thank Paul for his work as Chair of our committee. We will also farewell and thank Mel Scott and her family (Chris, Alex, Phoebe and Leila Year 6) for dedication to and participation as a valued council member.

I am delighted to announce that David Goble (Macie Year 4, Ellie Year 1 and Abbie Foundation 2025) will be the Chairperson of the St Brendan’s School Advisory Council next year. 

If you are interested in joining the S.A.C, please feel free to have a chat with me to learn more.

Exciting Student News!

Late last term, I informed all students from Year 3 to Year 6 about the poetry competition being run by Rosebud R.S.L. I was excited to learn that one of our Year 5 students, Chase O’Donohue, had been selected to attend the awards ceremony on Monday 4th November. I look forward to sharing with you all the news of Chase’s prize. Please enjoy his beautiful poem about his great grandfather shared below:

  Prisoners of SS Montevideo Maru

     A poem by Chase O'donohue

It was 1942 

I was Clarence Frederick Hicks 

Acting corporal in 2/22nd Australian Infantry Battalion

Based at Papua New Guinea as part of lark force operation

We stood camp there

Protecting the airfields

As the Japanese invaded the shores  

Outnumbered 1400 to 5000 

It was every man for themselves

The lucky ones escaped 

I was captured

Now a prisoner of war onboard an enemy ship

The SS Montevideo Maru 

Stalked through the night by the American submarine Sturgeon 

Torpedoes fired at us 

We found ourselves at the bottom of the South China Sea 

Waiting for our souls to be freed 

It is now the year 2023

A dedicated team of explorers came to set me free 

Although my body will remain at 4000 meters deep 

My name will forever be inscripted in the roll of honour

St Brendan’s Students On Stage

Molly Bright (Year 4) and her sister, Matilda performed in Winnie The Pooh, a play staged by BATS, a youth theatre company. The girls have rehearsed weekly since June. They  performed in two shows. Molly was absolutely delighted when our wonderful Music/Performing Arts teacher, Miss Emma Chapple attended the performance..

Molly played a bee, and Matilda played the Blue Narrator. Please enjoy some photos from the event.

On Monday, at our Week 4 assembly the audience was entertained by Parker Lylak who performed Ín the End ‘by Lincoln Park. Parker performed with sensitivity and confidence and we were all amazed when he told us that he had only been learning the piano for two months.